The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-25
The Company Succeeds in Getting Drivers
for Majority Of It's Cars-The Knights
Endeayoring to Adjust the Trouble.

| drivers While the strikers claim that they are
| as strong in spirit and numbers they were
| Saturday, the company states that many of
| them would return to work if some
| would take the lead. None of them wanted to be
first to submit. yet there is formidable infu-
| ence of few or many Lh 1t holds the men close
| ly to their claims which rest principally
/ upon the advance of cents an hour. The com
pany is not altogether certain of it's position, for
| the strikers committees tireless in their en-
| deavors to pursuade the drivers to join them.
| Success has attended them in several instances,
| but if the district assembly decides
| to issue order calling all Knights out it is
clear that tho company will be more severely
| crippled than at any time during the trouble
Before the Knights who are now driving identify
| themselves with the strike they want to a
| greater strength supporting the movement than
| that afforded by the Drivers Association, two
| thirds of the members of which belong to no
organization, except that formed for this struggle
| If the district assembly orders the Knights out
| they will have assurance of powerful ally.
and then the strike will mean bitter struggle
| for the mastery. This is conditional on Colonel
| Johnson's purposes. If he adheres to his willing
| ness to spend $50. 900 in defeating the strikers
rather than concede an advance in wages, the
| company may expect to be in hot water for some
| time to come
| The district assembly, or the executive board
/ which represents it, now has the question in it's
/ own keeping. A meeting was held last night
without reaching any definite conclusion, except
| to confer with Colonel johnson on the probabll-
| tiles of a settlement An effort was made to see
| him, but he could not be found The confer
| ence will occur this morning and by that future
| movements are to be guided. The Colonel ex-
| Labor and often asserts that he is in
| full sympathy with the manner IN
which the order conducts its negotiations
relative to differences between employers and
a q
ton. but how far this influence will move him
to grant the wages asked remains to be seen.
At the worst. he thinks he will be able to run
the cars regularly with supply of drivers that
has been offered him from other points He, as
| we'll as the companys officers, continue to praise
the stikers for their sobriety and moderation.
but the strikers do not think this sufficient to
settle their grievances
AS significant consequence of the strike
about 500 citizens met In Tomlinson Hall. las
night. to express sympathy with the drivers.
The repeated cheering and applause that pointed
| the periods to many Of the speeches showed to
which side the favor of the people was extended
When particularly strong arraignmens of the
companys treatment of its employees
was made br0adsiae of applause
strikers did most of the talking. With an ex-
ceotion two, they were moderate. in their
statements, which acquired additional force by
the simplicity of the telling No politicians
interfered to throw q shadow over the meeting,
although feeble call for DR.. Edenharter sug-
pested that there were men who wanted TO place
he did not respond, nor did several other citizens
from whom speeches were demanded The
meeting desired to have the drivers tell their
own story, Morris Donney presided and James
O'Neil striker. first stated the grievances
which he and the drivers had. The requirement
to purchase whips of tho company lowered ma
terially the days wages A driver would daily
use three and perhaps more of these whips. for
which 10 cents each was paid. Say threee whips"
he continued, would cost 80 cents Take that
from drivers daily wages, and would it leave
him sum greater than drivers in other cities
receive2 We pay 81 for each cap, but the same
kind can be had for 80 cents. Colonel johnson
they be had at so cents cost price" He
also told of petty exactions by tyrannical of
fGers, the suspensions that would follow the
most trivial offenses, and the frequent
losses drivers had to stand in max
ing good plugged pieces of money and
some of the police tainted them and exercised
their authority when the strikers were doing no
harm and did not even contemplate violence.
as did his expression OF confidence IN the good
win of the people toward the strikers. II leave
our with the citizens" he said; "they
know it is just, and as long we are out I
driving say they will not join us because they
have wives and children to care for. have
wife and child When told my wife what I
had done in this matter. she said: Stay out I'M
ill you get your price. and if you never
drive on another car. go to some other place for
work. Keep going until you find it. if you
have to 60 TO Australia. But whatever you do
stand by the boys"
Captain Maloney was called for. but he con-
tented himself in offering the strikers his SYM
patty and whatever financial assistance he could
give. Mr.. Kenny, one of the strikers. gave
account of the severe apprenticeship before
man can get regular car. A driver is first
taken substitute. and he is required to
pay. He then hen Deco, becomes an extra.
until IL o'clock at night. This work continues
for eight or nine months before he becomes a
regular By that time he is pretty we'll worn
he had 50-cent whip, but the officers thought
that such whip was too severe. and he was
compelled to purchase the 10-cent whip. He had
used three or four of them in day, These
whips could not be used on stubborn mules with
out the driver being behind them. He could not
complain of the manner in which he was treated
but drivers are required to do fifty thirgs at
once, the least of which to watch the
team. make change, look out for passengers
guard the cash box, and keep his eyes on the
fares.
After this speech the meeting began to express
its sympathy in formal motions and resolutions
Joseph Graft introducing one to the effect that
every man and woman willing to keep off the
streetcars until the strike is settled should rise
to their feet. The response was unanimous. not
one of the large audience remaining seated
resolution was offered that no fare shall be-
placed in the cash box, 'but only handed on de-
msnd to a properly authorized conductor"
ANY remarks on the resoutionT asked Chair
man Donnelly.
mo, no, no." came from al parts of the
house. The resolution was adopted with cheers
After which Mr.. Malone a driver of four years
experience tine lines of the Citizens Street.
railway Company. said that within that time he
had seen many things that made him hot
Drivers were allowed only six minutes in which
to eat their dinners Colonel johnson has a cane
that every street-car man East and West has
heard about. It has been used on the heads of
shoulders of many more. Some of
the road officers ought not to
/. be placed in charge of dogs The Colonel
dS affi nd inn a
men or they cannot work for him. Colonel
johnson has 10 sympathy and il is impossible